Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church

In a newly updated and expanded edition of his original best seller Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality, evangelical theologian and former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Jack Rogers makes a biblical case for equal rights for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Throughout history, he observes, Christianity has moved towards ever greater openness and inclusiveness. Today's church is led by many of those who were once excluded: people of color, women, and divorced and remarried people. He argues that when we interpret the Bible through the lens of Jesus' redemptive life and ministry, we see that the church is called to grant equal rights to all people. Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality describes Rogers' own change of mind and heart on the issue, charts the church's history of using biblical passages to oppress marginalized groups, argues for a Christ-centered reading of Scripture, debunks stereotypes about people who are LGBT, refutes the conventional wisdom about the texts that are often used against people who are LGBT, and presents ideas for how the church can heal itself and move forward again.

The revised and expanded edition also includes:

* A new preface with "stories from the road" as a result of Rogers's two year book tour in support of the first edition;

* Updates on recent developments within the Presbyterian Church ( U.S.A.);

* A new chapter that examines God's radical welcome for all who have faith as revealed in Scripture;

* A new appendix that maps the recent progress toward LGBT equality in major U.S. denominations; and

* A study guide for group or personal reflection.

Rogers is Professor of Theology Emeritus at San Francisco Theological Seminary and Moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He is the author of Reading the Bible and the Confessions; Claiming the Center: Churches and Conflicting Worldviews; and Presbyterian Creeds.

For more information, visit his website online, and to purchase Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality online, click here. (By using this link, Amazon.com will donate 5% of your purchase total to PFLAG National.)

2 comments:

Thank you so much for letting people know about my book! PFLAG does amazing amazing work. I have learned so much from PFLAG members across the country who have shared their stories with me. Thank you for all that you do!

This is a terrific book for helping people understand the issue of homosexuality within the church, but also helping them see sexual minorities as fully human and fully equal in God's perspective. I have been recommending it to everyone with whom I discussion this.